Next generation of aviation fire fighters enter service

Airservices welcomed 19 new aviation rescue fire fighters into service at a graduation ceremony held at the Airservices Learning Academy at Melbourne Airport today.

The graduating recruits will join more than 740 fire fighters at the nation’s busiest airports as part of Airservices Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) service.

Airservices General Manager Learning Academy, Linda Spurr, presented Trainee Fire Fighter Tobi Noble from Sydney with the Silver Axe Award for the most outstanding recruit on the course.

Amongst the 19 graduating recruits were Tobi Noble, Amanda Barnes and Allison Walters, demonstrating Airservices commitment to increasing the number of women in operational aviation rescue and fire fighting roles.

The recruits completed a physically and mentally demanding 11-week training course at Airservices Learning Academy in Melbourne and the organisation’s fire training ground in Sydney.

The theoretical and practical training undertaken included fighting aircraft and structural fires, aviation rescue techniques and dealing with the hazards of highly flammable aviation fuels.

Airservices Learning Academy has facilitated the training and development of more than 160 new fire fighters over the last four years and continues to provide quality training and development opportunities for fire fighters at all stages of their careers.

Airservices Acting Executive General Manager, ARFF, Michelle Bennetts, said the new recruits will work at stations in Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Sydney, Rockhampton, Adelaide and Darwin.

“Airservices has one of the largest, most highly trained, professional aviation rescue and fire-fighting services in the world,” Ms Bennetts said.

“Our fire fighters have the expertise to provide Australian airports and airline passengers with first-rate rescue and fire-fighting services.

“We welcome them to Airservices and congratulate them on successfully completing the demanding course.”